Can you believe how much your 12-month-old baby’s sleep has changed since they were a newborn? Back then their sleep was super disorganized; now, their 12-month-old sleep schedule likely has taken on a predictable rhythm with two naps and a consistent bedtime routine.
To help you navigate the next step in your baby’s sleep journey, we’ve gathered expert advice on how to set up your 12-month-old’s sleep schedule. Here we’ll answer some of the most common questions about a 12-month-old’s sleep, including “how much should a 12-month-old sleep each day?”
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For more insights into your 12-month-old's sleep schedule, and for step-by-step guidance on how to help your baby fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, download the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ app. We know from our own experience how frustrating and confusing getting your baby to sleep can be – Smart Sleep Coach aims to bring more growth and less confusion to you and your baby’s healthy sleep journey.
From 1-click sleep tracking to mini-articles explaining the science behind sleep to step-by-step guidance into how to improve your baby’s sleep, the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ is your one-stop go-to baby sleep app.
Best of all, the Smart Sleep Coach is so effective that most parents start sleeping better in as little as a few days!
A 12-Month-Old Sleep Schedule Example
Here’s a sample schedule for a 12-month-old baby. A 12-month-old generally takes two naps a day and stays awake for 3-3.5 hours at a time. Keep in mind that the beginning of toddlerhood brings a lot of change, so your baby's schedule might look different from this example.
When building your baby’s schedule, focus less on actual time and more on your baby’s wake windows and sleepy cues.
Sample sleep schedule for 12-month-olds with 2 naps:
Note: The schedule here reflects two naps. Most 12-month-olds are still taking two naps, though some may be ready for their 2-to-1 nap transition. For more insights into dropping naps, read our piece on when and how to nap transition.
12-month-old wake windows in sleep schedule
- Wake Windows: The amount of time your baby is awake between sleeps. For example, if your baby wakes up at 7am and naps at 10am, their morning wake window is 3 hours.
- Wake windows change as your baby grows, which is why it’s important to make sure your baby is getting the right amount of sleep for their age.
- Sleepy Cues: The actions your baby does when they’re tired, such as yawning, pulling their ears, becoming fussy, or turning away from you. When you see these sleepy cues, your baby’s wake window is closing and it’s time to start your bedtime routine.
Can a 12-month-old baby sleep through the night?
Yes, most 12-month-olds can sleep through the night. By now most one-year-olds have gained enough weight to forego night feedings – confirm your baby is ready with your baby’s pediatrician – and can therefore sleep through the night.
If your baby isn’t sleeping through the night by their first birthday, you may want to explore sleep training to help them sleep through the night and get the restorative sleep they need at this age.
How sleep training helps a 12-month-old's sleep schedule:
- Sleep training shapes your baby’s circadian rhythm to help them consolidate their sleep at night.
- Sleep training ensures your baby’s sleep environment is set up to optimize sleep.
- Sleep training helps your baby develop their independent sleep skills and gets them used to falling asleep at bedtime with ease. Sleep training also helps them fall back asleep without crying when they wake at night between sleep cycles (which they will).
This all means that sleep trained babies often fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer – and that parents sleep better, too. Everybody wins!
If your one-year-old is still struggling with sleep, take this free 3-minute better sleep assessment to get a plan from Smart Sleep Coach to turn their sleep around. This expert-backed baby sleep app is so easy to use: in addition to 1-click sleep tracking, the Smart Sleep Coach walks you step-by-step through the entire process of building health sleep habits – from building a bedtime routine to creating your 12-month-old's sleep schedule.
For parents who want to explore sleep training, Smart Sleep Coach can become a sleep training app that customizes a sleep coaching method for your unique little one based on your parental style, so you and your family can sleep well in the way that’s best for you.
Also remember: the combination of new physical and cognitive developmental milestones may lead to your baby figuring out how to climb out of their crib. Make sure to lower the crib mattress as part of your 12-month-old's schedule!
Is there a 12-month-old regression?
There can be a 12-month sleep regression that results from sleep disruption because of developmental milestones that lead to things such as separation anxiety or teething. If your baby is going through a nap transition that may affect you baby’s sleep as well.
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How Many Hours Should a 12-Month-Old Sleep Each Day?
Many experts say an average 12-month-old should sleep about 13 hours and 15 minutes over a 24-hour period. Remember every baby is different and that includes their sleep needs, too.
How much nighttime sleep for a 12-month-old?
While every baby is unique, on average 12-month-olds sleep 11-12 hours at night to ensure they keep growing well and meet all of their developmental milestones.
If your baby is becoming more independent and learning the word “no,” be prepared for some more robust bedtime protests than before. Rest assured this is normal, but to keep your baby’s sleep on track, it’s important you stay firm in your bedtime routine and 12-month-old sleep schedule. Even letting your baby stay up later “just this once” can skew their entire sleep cycle.
How much daytime sleep for a 12-month-old?
Most 12-month-olds should get about 2-3 hours of daytime sleep divided between 2 naps.
Note: Some 12-month-olds will start to resist an afternoon nap. While some babies will naturally transition from 2 to 1 nap around now, we suggest keeping your baby on two naps as part of their 12-month sleep schedule for as long as possible.
For more information on baby nap transitions and how to drop naps, check out our dedicated article on nap transitions.
Final Thoughts
Your baby’s sleep schedule will continue to change as they grow. Life with a toddler is busy, so when your baby reaches their first birthday, there’s no better time to download the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ app to figure out their sleep schedule, along with sleep safety and, if you’re interested, how to continue sleep coaching after 12 months.
Your 12-month-old's sleep schedule is key to ensuring you, and your now toddler, get the sleep you all need to continue navigating the months and years ahead. You got this!
